SPAD.neXt

Simulation Panel Advanced Drivers: neXt Generation. SPAD.neXt is a replacement software for Saitek Flight Simulation Panels and other hardware. While most provide drivers for their panels, these have several shortcomings.

For the Right Starter Switch : Position Off
sim/cockpit2/engine/actuators/ignition_key [8] = [0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0]
Right Starter Switch: Position R
sim/cockpit2/engine/actuators/ignition_key [8] = [0,1,0,0,0,0,0,0]
Right Starter Switch: Position L
sim/cockpit2/engine/actuators/ignition_key [8] = [0,2,0,0,0,0,0,0]
Right Starter Switch: Position Both
sim/cockpit2/engine/actuators/ignition_key [8] = [0,3,0,0,0,0,0,0]
For the Start Position, Send the Default Command
sim/starters/engage_starter_2

For Spad.next and setting up the Switch (Left Engine )
for the Magneto Positions R , L , Both I used the Change Data Value
and selected Xplane > sim > Cockpit2 > Engine > actuators
then Ignition Key # 1 setting the parameter as 0 for off position 1 for right position 2 for Left position and 3 for Both.
For the start position I then set the event for a Switch On.
Send Simulator Command event.
Select Xplane > sim > starters > engage_starter_1 and also select begin command and Parameter Value 1
I then Set an event for the switch off.
Select Xplane > sim > starters > engage_starter_1 and also select end command and parameter Value 2

The right Engine is exactly the same but use Ignition Key 2 and engage starter 2.

I Have tested this method on my development machine, and with simple joystick buttons , I will have a look at setting this system up in my sim machine but im pretty happy that it would work.

Thanks Lee. I don't get this bit. I will try what you have said here, as I didn't know the engage_starter_n event could take a parameter. I also don't know what 'begin command' means (I have seen it as an option but I don't know what it means). Previously the closest I got was sending the engage_starter_n event with the 25ms repeat, but that doesn't really work reliably.

I have already experimented with the ignition_key[] dataref and the switches move, but it is getting the starter to stay engaged while I hold the switch down that I have not been able to achieve.

Thanks Lee, that did it - the Begin/End Command made the difference. Maybe this is an X-Plane-specific thing. I tried leaving it at 'Execute Command' and setting the parameter to 1 or 2 manually, and if you do this it automatically changes to 'Begin Command' or 'End Command'.

Anyway, I now have my engine starters working fine! I haven't bothered with the mags for now as I don't have any sensible switches to map them to. I just leave them on both all the time